The Ray Family

2014-01-17T18:43:00.000-08:00

So I know that it has been way to long since I updated my blog and those that followed at one time are probably thinking that we have fallen off the face of the earth......well we are still here......life has changed a lot for us. In April we moved into our own place, Mommy and Katee took a trip to Utah and helped celebrate Grammy-Greats birthday, Daddy took an awesome motorcycle ride with Grandpa Ray in June, Mommy and Katee went back to Utah for Grammy-Greats funeral and well we just keep going. Mommy decided to stop working outside the home and stays home with Katee which she loves and she also watches other kiddos as well which gives Katee an opportunity to play and have lots of fun. She loves spending time with her cousins and new friends that come to the house. Mommy is still working on getting her teaching degree and she is working on her final class and getting ready to take the Praxis II in the next few months. Daddy is working at Alaska Sales and Service and does a really great job of providing for our family. Christmas came and went and we still haven't taken a new family picture yet. Maybe by Valentine's Day it will happen...if not know we are happy and making things work! Brandon is serving as the Asst. Executive Ward Clerk and Mommy is the Primary Chorister. Katee is adjusting to nursery. We have started taking Katee to the swimming pool and she is loving it. This last Monday night she even started pushing herself away from us and trying to swim to the other parent. We are having so much fun watching her grow and develop. We are looking forward to celebrating Katee's 2nd birthday and Mommy completing her class. Here are a few pictures that will help catch you up of the happenings of the life of the Ray family!

watch for more updates...I will try harder to keep it updated more! That's all the time I have now!

Growing Too Fast!!!

2012-08-06T00:10:00.001-07:00

Katee has grown so much...she is learning to sit in her bumbo more and is loving eating baby food...I don't know if she has a favorite yet but she loves most of them...she has tried apples, carrots, peas, and squash. She is getting bigger by the second it seems...we are already going through and taking out clothes that don't fit her...she has been learing to stand with miminal support and is actually even big enough to sit by herself for a few seconds...she is loving her toys and is making more and more sounds that indicate that she is going to be a great talker...we took her to the airshow and she kept her headphones on the whole time...she actually slept most of the time...she is loving the juper at the daycare and is loving her ostasaucer (walker/jumper toy that doesn't move)...she has a jumper that you put in a doorway that she is absolutely loving as well...Katee is starting to roll over as well...she does it mostly when mommy and daddy aren't looking...we will put her on her tummy or back and let her play for a while and usually within moments she is rolling over...we are so excited about progress and can't wait to see her start crawling and walking! It has been really fun putting her hair into pony tails and daddy is even learning to remember to put a bow in each day...she is loving spending time with her cousins as well... We hope that you enjoy the pictures and video!

Brett Layne Ray

2012-06-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

Brett Layne Ray (Bretto), from Wasilla Alaska, passed away at age 26 in Wasilla due to injuries suffered in a motorcycle collision.

Brett was born on July 25th, 1985 in Juneau Alaska to Dean & Ann Ray. He was the fifth of five children and has lived in Alaska for most of his life. He was a graduate of Wasilla High School and graduated with a 4.0 GPA at Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix Arizona where he studied to become a Diesel Mechanic. Brett was married on June 1st 2008 to his beloved wife Laurie West in Big Lake Alaska. He was employed by Schlumberger as a diesel mechanic for nearly six years. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, and fishing but most especially riding motorcycles, snowmachines, and four wheelers. He was also actively seeking his pilot’s license so that he could fly airplanes. He was most happy when on top of a mountain in deep powder or on a sand dune rippin’ up the dirt. While Brett played hard, Brett was a model of safety. Brett loves his family, especially his wife Laurie. He lived to have play time with his family. Brett was very conscientious about how he took care of himself and worked hard to be physically fit. He was a rock. He was naturally shy in public, but to his family and close friends he was a true clown. From dressing up as the Incredible Hulk and trying to scare his mother, to his constant funny voices and phrases; with quick wit and smile, he was a joy for everyone to be around. His brother and sisters would often squabble about who got to spend time with him because of his naturally relaxed and fun personality. He was the truest of friends, and had a deep respect for his family.

Brett is survived by his wife Laurie West-Ray of Wasilla, his father Dean Ray and his mother Ann Ray of Wasilla, his older brother Brandon Ray and his older sisters Susie Ray, Deana Ray Bowen, & Leanne Ray Sierra, and by his beloved puppy Kenai.

Funeral services will be held at the Wasilla Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 901 E Bogard Road on Thursday June 7th with a viewing at 12pm and a memorial service at 1pm.

Services will be conducted by Bishop David Breshears of the Settlers Bay Ward. Pallbearers will be: Dean Ray, Brandon Ray, Bates West, Michael West, Doug Bowen, and Troy Eberline.

Honorary pallbearers: Duff Ray, John Ray, Richard Howard, C.J. Bowen, Doug Mason, and Luke West

Brett will be laid to rest at the City of Wasilla Cemetery.

Funeral home services will be provided by Kehls Mortuary of Palmer.

A memorial fund has been established for Brett’s wife Laurie to assist with her needs. It is requested that rather than flowers that a donation be made for this cause. We wish to thank all of the family and good friends who have sent out their thoughts and prayers to Brett, Laurie and the rest of our family.

For more information please call (907) 357-7088

As Brett would say in a Pirates voice, “They’re more like guidelines!” His philosophy in life was: Live like you were dying.

Katee's first photo shoot

2012-03-16T19:46:00.003-07:00

Click the below link to see Katee's newborn pics!
http://video214.com/play/7VaaPHEj23RSopdq8bwYTQ/s/dark

Announcement....

2012-03-11T21:18:00.000-07:00

Well the blessed event has come.....

Katee MayAnn Ray was born on February 25, 2012 at 4:02 pm. She weighed 6 lbs 3 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. She has lots of dark hair and is doing well. As you can imagine our house is very busy with all sorts of new little first and long nights. We are so blessed to have her here with us and are loving every second of it. We will try to post more pictures later....here is a sneek peak at this beautiful angel sent from above....

Exciting News!!!

2012-01-28T16:30:00.000-08:00

Ok so the exciting news is that we are ADOPTING!!!

We found out shortly after Christmas that we had been choosen to be parents to a sweet angel. The birthmother is a sweet young woman who is make the most selfless act we know. She is an amazing person and we are enjoying getting to know her. She is beautiful both inside and out. She will be considered an angel in our book for all time. Brandon and I are realy excited and nervous all rolled into one. We have really tried to keep our heads about us incase things turn out differently than what we are planning on.

Our birthmother is part native and we are very excited to learn more about her culture so that we can instill some of her culture and upbringing into our daughters life. We don't know too much about the birthfather but we know that he is an amazing youngman. We hope to be able to keep intouch with them through this amazing journey.

We have started putting the nursery together and each time we add something to it we get that much more excited. We don't hav much time to prepare...she is due to make her entrance in March...so we are working very hard to get everything ready!

We are so amazingly grateful for this wonderful, amazing, young woman and hope that she knows how much we love and admire her. We will try to keep you updated with all of the exciting details.

If any of you have any advice for the new parents to be please share it with us...we make look like what we are doing all the time with neices and nephews but we can always use good advice... Thanks for all of your love and support.

Please keep us all in your prayers as we keep you in ours.

More Anniversary Fun!

2012-01-28T13:09:00.001-08:00

Well I know it has been way to long....just thought I would share a few more pictures from our adventures....

Yep we took time for a movie....

we took time to cook... and boy did we cook....

I would have to say this was one of the most delicious meals we had during our whole trip. We also had a lot of fun just playing around on the beach and exploring...

Isn't he handsome....

Do I make a pretty cute Pocahontas don't I...

Yep even the dog had fun...

Yep we found some flowers and .....

Lots and lots of rocks....we had so much fun! We also decided that we should take an adventure to Seldovia....we started on the ferry...

we had a lot of fun there....here is a look at what we did...

Brandon making the arrangements to use one of those fun carts...

We rented this for an hour and we drove all around Seldovia and still had time to spare...but oh it was fun!

and we had a lot of fun eating there as well...the little place we ate at was very cute and very delicious...

After we had the delicious sandwiches we had wonderful icecream. After that we walked the docks, as many of you know is a tradition, it was a very nice day...

We truly had so much fun and enjoyed just spending time with one another. We hoped that you enjoyed what we shared, of course their was so much more but we are keeping those memories to ourselves!

Anniversary Fun 2011

2011-12-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

Ok so I know that this is way over due, but I had some family and friends asking to see our Anniversary trip this year, so here it is......

We started out camping on the side of the river, right on the road...definitely as first for both of us

Then we started to fox Island bright and early the next morning.

To get to Fox Island we took a water taxi with all of our gear, we even took Drake (the dog) and he seemed to enjoy the boat ride, he did really well actuallly....

After we were dropped off onto the Island we decided to go on an exploration of the Island....

We found this starfish which was very amusing to watch....

It was fun to walk around the Island and know that it was just the two of us...we found so many fun stumps and of course a lot of rocks to take fun pictures by...

and more stumps and rocks.....

You know you can never have to many pictures in front of or on or by a stump or log or rocks....

We had so much fun just exploring and spending time with one another....

I think that even Drake enjoyed our walk around the Island. It was fun to see that the Island was so diverse from one side to the other....one was filled with lots of large rocks and the other was small rocks and sand...but it was all beautiful in its own way...

After we explored we decided to set up camp and get something to eat....

I did say something to eat right...well this is Brandon's idea of food...I had a different idea....

I think that he had one thing on his mind and that was it.....yep you guessed it "FISHING"! I think that he could have stayed there forever if he could just fish all day and all night....
After dinner, which is much easier made with utensils..yep we forgot cooking utensils...we had a very interesting time cooking on our adventure, we had fun fishing. The next day we went exploring and this is what we found.....

We found this amazing rock...with an amazing view....

We had a lot of fun taking pictures.....

more to come later......

Team Ra-Ras Kicks Breast Cancer - Susan G. Komen for the Cure Philadelph...

2011-12-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

What an inspiring video! The Komen for the Cure has helped so many women, including myself! These beautiful women are cheering for the best team ever, LIFE!!! Wish I could have been apart of it!!! It looks like it was so much fun!!! Enjoy!!!

Fairbanks and snow!

2011-11-14T19:38:00.000-08:00

The white stuff is here! Normally I would be very excited for a white Christmas but I am not sure that I am going to be that excited this year! I think once I start listening to the beautiful music and start seeing more of those wonderful Christmas lights appear maybe I will get more excited. I am just getting "Cabin Fever" I guess you could say. It is so dark here in the winter and I am sure missing those beautiful sunsets from home. We have about a foot or so that I get to tromp through anytime I go to the truck, boy am I missing a nice enclosed garage, any type of garage is better than no garage at all.
Yesterday on my way to church the truck vapor locked, I was a 1/2 hour late for church, and ended up sitting in the foyer the whole time, the only perk was that I got to see Sister Baker. She too has just arrived in Fairbanks. Seeing a familiar face yesterday was what I needed to bring me back down to warm and cozy. On my way home yesterday after Brandon had fixed the truck and traded me for the escape, the escape decided to die on me, I guess sitting with it idling with the lights on was not the smartest thing I could have done but it just wasn't what I needed, thank heavens Brandon was able to come and safe me yet again.
One lesson learned yesterday for sure was that I need my snow gear with me where ever it is I go. You never know when you are going to get stuck on the side of the road in below zero temperatures. I definitely got the I told you so from Brandon on that one. But I have to say I am SOOOOOOO grateful for him and his williness to come and safe me when I am needing to be saved. I guess it could have been worse, I could have been in the ditch again and then I would have been really stuck. Oh how I love the snow!
Now that the snow has fallen, you know it hasn't dumped it all yet, I just need to get into that wonderful winter spirit. Bundle up my friends I hear it is going to be a cold one tonight!!

Adoption

2011-11-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

Well as many of you know Brandon and I have moved from Wasilla to Fairbanks. With this move brings new adventures and new trials. We are learning to be more conservative with water, wood, and our patience. But the one thing that is always difficult about a move is that our adoption profile is put on hold until we update all of the important documents that go along with trying to adopt. We are discouraged that we are "off-line" currently with our adoption profile, but we hope that our friends and families will continue to keep us in their prayers and keep their ears open for leads per say for opportunities for us to increase our family.

We truly have been blessed to have been living in the Wasilla area, we have made so many friendships that will last a life time. We were so blessed to be with Brandon's mom and can't express our appreciation for her. My parents also helped to make our last couple of years managable. Thanks does not even begin to repay them.

We have secured a rental home just a little bit outside of the main town of Fairbanks up on Chena Ridge drive. It is very unique to what we are use to living in, but it is all ours. It has two bedrooms, 1 1/2 baths, a large living/kitchen area and a blaze king fireplace, a small artic entry, and of course NO garage. Things are starting to settle in and I am on the search for a new job, something that is always one of my favorite things to do, NOT!!! Brandon has been very supportive and is making sure that I stay nice and warm! It is amazing just how much colder it is here in Fairbanks vs Wasilla. I am adjusting though. I can successfully get from the house to Home Depot without getting lost so that is always a blessing! I will post some pictures as soon as I get them down loaded, but until then here are some pictures of our adventure getting here....hope that you enjoy it!

Funny how my car seems to be fuller than his..... but that is totally not the case, he had all the firewood!

And down the road we go.....

Until next time..........

Fall Adventures

2011-11-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share a few pictures from one of our Fall adventures!

This scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

Summer has begun!!!

2011-07-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have been really bad at blogging! I know that I need to blog more often for those of you that only see me every 5 years and those that I don't get to see ever! So here it what has happened in pictures since school got out in May! Hope you like them..........

We watched moose in our back yard......

Went to a Joe Diffy Concert.......

We played with Raylee......

Watched a few movies for date night........

We celebrated Ann's and Susie's Birthdays......

I went to Girls Camp.......Survived........

Went to Jim's Creek for a little fun......

Went for bike rides......

Took a family vacation to Homer...... Where we......

Went Clamming........and ........

We had a picnic ........ and we ........

Took lots of pictures by big fish......... because we could only catch.....

The little fish after we had fished and fished and fished..........

But we had fun so we decided to keep........

Eating and fishing and having a wonderful time! We enjoyed the ......

Ocean and beach........

The eagles ...... and .........

Beautiful sunsets! When the journey was done we .........

slept, and then we started our next journey!

Brandon and I always like to take road trips, they are never very far but they are always fun. This week during his day off we decided to go to Whitter......this is what we found.......

Before you actually get to Whitter you have to wait to go through the tunel. The unique thing about the tunel is that the train also goes through this tunel and so you have to wait your turn. Why we waited we studied the map......

When the light turns green you are free to go through....

And when the lights green you get to proceed.....

And our journey began......

and when you get to the other side ........

It was a little rainer than we were expecting but we made the best of it. We found some beautiful spots to take some amazing pictures.....

We had so much fun just spending time together.....

Making sure we enjoyed the day......

We know we are crazy but.........

we have so much fun with one another........

we had a lot of fun and I am so glad that we took this time just for us. I hope that we get to do it again really soon.

Mother's

2011-05-08T23:34:00.000-07:00

This is my amazing Mother and Grandma (her Mom)

I know that most of us feel that our Mom is the BEST mother in the world, well I really believe that I do. My mother has always been there for me no matter what the situation or the need. I believe it is because she has the BEST mother in the world too!
On this day that we are given to celebrate mothers I am so grateful to be able to reflect upon all that our mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and sisters in the gospel have done for us. I truly have been blessed to have these amazing women in my life. How wonderful it is that we have opportunities in our lives that we can learn from one another. I know that I have learned so many things from the women in my life. Their examples have been countless! I am amazed at how much love, compassion, charity, and devotion they show to me and their families. Thank you so much for sharing these precious truths and characteristics with me.
I hope that when I have the opportunity to be a mother that I will be able to incorporate these same qualities myself. Until that time comes I guess I will just have to practice on those around me. Thank you Mom for loving me!
One of my favorite lyrics from a song is:
My mother could have been an actress, my mother could have been a star, but she choose something more important, my mother chose to be my MOM!out there!
How grateful I am that my mother chose to be my MOM! Her example keeps me going!

These are my amazing Sisters!

This is my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law!

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mother's

Adoption

2011-02-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

Today I have been thinking a lot about what it is that I truly want my life to be. As many of you know life doesn't ask us what we want before things are put in our path that does not really work into what we have planned or scheduled. I have wanted to be a mother since I can remember, my goals as a small girl were very simple, perform on broadway, get married, have a fammily and to teach.
Well, I didn't get to perform on broadway but I did get to perform in several schools around Utah, Nevada, Colorado, California, Tahiti, and England. I think that will be ok for that goal.

I married one of the most amazing men I know and love him so very much. I couldn't accomplish what I do without him right by my side to help me through all of the ugliness that life has thrown at me.

I am alomost finished with my teaching degree and actually have the opportunity right now to work in a school that allows me to help with teaching the children to read and to be safe.

So I have accomplished most of the goals that I set out to do as a small girl. The one goal that has not yet been reached is that of having my own family. As many of you know, Brandon and I have tried for the past 13 years to have our own family and have not been successful in this endevor. We have gone through the pain of being so excited knowing we were pregnant just to have our hopes and dreams crushed by the lose of the pregnancy. Because we want to have a family of our own so badly we took this desire to the Lord. We prayed for answers of how it was we were to have our family and were guided to adoption. We understand that this is a huge sacrifice for someone else as well as our selves to put all of our trust and faith in the Lord.

I have empty arms and they long to be filled with the warm and sweetness of a child that I can call my own. I am asking with all of the fiber of my being that you will pass on our adoption link to everyone that you know. Brandon and I have so much love to give. We cherise the time we get to spend with our nieces and nephews and the wonderful kiddos of our friends but it is very lonely for us when we leave them or they leave us. We want to be able to bring our own kids to the playdates and birthdays that we so happliy and love to participate in.

Please, please forward our request to all that you know.

https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/23312083/ourMessage.jsf

I know that I have a choice to be happy no matter what life has instore for me and that I infact get to choose many of the things life brings, but for those things that I do not get to choose I will keep praying and living to be able to experience the life that God feels is right for me. Thanks to all who love and support us in all that we do, we feel your love and prayers daily in our lives and love you all so very much.
I am going to try to live life like the song says,"It's not the breaths you take but the moment that take your breath away". I hope that all of you will too!

~ Sharon ~

Birthday Wishes Come True!

2011-02-13T22:48:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to get on and say that I have the best family and friends anyone could dream of. Even though all of their lives are so hetic and full of all sorts of activities they took time out of their very busy schedules to make time for me and make my birthday special. Thank you so very much for loving me that much! I truly and blessed.
One of my wishes this year was to feel the love of my Savior in my life. I asked for this wish only because lately I have been pondering why it is we go through trials in our lives. I think that I still have a lot to learn but here are some of the things that I have discovered so far:
My Savior Jesus Christ died for me and suffered for MY sins, He loved me that much. Things that are put in our path are always for our growth, even when we don't understand why (this one is a little harder to accept sometimes), there are things that we are going to have to face in life that no one wants to face or have to go through, as long as I am in the drivers seat and the Lord is my co-pilot (if you will) I can accomplish anything. Many of these things are known by many, truth be told I guess I already knew it too. I am just so glad that I have constant reminders in my life that tells me I am a daughter of God and the I am loved unconditionally by him and my Savior. I am so blessed to have a loving husband who continues to keep me going when all I want to do is throw my hands in the air and say no more I am done! Thank you Brandon for loving me that much. Thank you to all of my family and friends that have helped me through the past year, as some of the hurdles are being passed and celebrated as a new anniversary I truly am amazed at how I have been able to overcome and conquer what has been put in my path, I could not have accomplished it all without your continued support either. I do not know how I will ever repay you all, please know how grateful I am and how much I love each and everyone of you. May we all feel the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ as we continue through the journey we call life.

Holiday Fun and the New Year

2011-01-03T12:28:00.000-08:00

I have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with my family. I can't believe that it is almost over. Even though school has started back up for all of them I am still enjoying the time here with them.

When I arrived in Utah it was raining and I was not to excited about it, but the following morning I woke up to 20" of fresh new snow. It was so exciting to see how excited my family from Texas was about the opportunity to play in the snow. Wyatt and Alyssa really don't remember the snow like that, Kristin and Dustin were so excited and stayed out in it for a really long time. They loved sledding behind the 4-wheeler and the small sledding hill we made in the back yard.

We had 22 of us on one day all together and it was like old times, loud and chaotic, just the way I remember it. Even though not all 32 of us were not all together at the same time it has been fun to see all of them.

Brandon and I had the opporunity to go visit friends in Logan and his sister from Vegas. We got to see my Grandmother and cousins from southern Utah. I am really tired of traveling from place to place but I wouldn't change it for the world.

I have scrapbooked with my mom, sisters, and neices and have raced cars with my nephews. Played games way to late into the night/morning and have relished in the joy on the faces of the little ones as they have opened their Christmas presents.
(I will post pictures soon of all the fun!)

As this new year begins I hope to make it even better than the last. I am going to try harder to be more appreciative of the things I have in my life instead of dwelling on the things I don't have. I am going to work on the things that I have cntorl over and not worry so much on the things I can't control. I am going to strive harder in my school work and be more loving to my family.

Most of all I am going to try harder to thank God for the blessings in my life everyday whether small or large. I am going to shower my wonderful husband with love and devotion and give the support he gives to me.

I hope that as this new year gets on its way we will all take a moment to thank God for the things they have in their life that they are thankful for and that they will take the challenge to do better in whatever aspect they need a little bit of work on in their lives. May God keep all of us in his arms and heart this coming year.

Happy 2011 family and friends! We love and appreciate all of you!

Sharon and Brandon

Christmas at HOME!

2010-12-16T00:19:00.000-08:00

I can't describe how excited I am to be going home for Christmas this year. I know that I should be grateful to spend Christmas with Brandon's family but there is just something about being HOME with my family for the holidays. Karen (twin) is coming home to so that makes it that much more special. I don't even care if I open one gift, being able to be there with them is enough for me. I have had half of my suitcase packed for a month, I am crazy I know but just can't wait.

I hope that all of my family and friends find joy and happiness this year and that they will be able to enjoy the holiday season. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Christmas Is In The Air

2010-12-04T02:42:00.000-08:00

It seems like the Christmas Spirit is already in the air. I love this time of year. I love the music, lights, family parties, smells, and of course the gifts. I know most of you are probably thinking it is because I love to receive gifts, which is true, I also love to give gifts. I love to watch family and friends open up what it is I have gotten them. I know that sometimes they don't quite know what to say to what it is I give them but that is part of the fun. I can't wait for Brandon to open his gifts this year. We don't have any money to speak of so I had to get a little creative. I can't wait to go home to be with my family in Utah and I can't wait to squeeze all of those wonderful neices and nephews! Well until later, keep that Christmas Spirit alive in all that you do!

Just a quick reminder, Sunday,December 5, 2010, I will be singing with the community choral for the Messiah. It is at the LDS Stake House right by Wasilla High School. It starts at 7:30! Love you see you all there! Come and enjoy the season through song!

2010-12-04T02:19:00.001-08:00

Winter Fun

2010-11-25T20:06:00.000-08:00

So grateful today for family and friends. So very grateful for a wonderful husband that loves me unconditionally! For a warm fire and delicious pie. I am so thankful for the land that I live in that is free and allows me to worship how I wish. I am grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. We took some pictures today and thought that we would share them with you. Hope you enjoy them.

Make your own scrapbook

Fun Fall Pictures!

2010-11-22T00:42:00.000-08:00

I know that this is a little late in getting posted, We actually have snow on the ground now, but I thought that I would post them so that my wonderful family and friends could enjoy them. Brandon and I went to Hatcher's Pass a couple of times after church and we really enjoyed our time together! We hope that you enjoy them too!

Scrapbook design customized with Smilebox

The "Mighty Hunter"

2010-10-31T17:13:00.000-07:00

Wow, it has been forever since I posted anything. So sorry to those that follow closely! I will try to do better! Let me recap for you quickly before I get to the "Mighty Hunter" section.

Lets see school started in September so I am back working with the kids everyday. I so enjoy working with them. I start out the day in a kindergarten class for reading, boy they are so smart! then it is off to the playground. It has been a little bit of a challenge this year, we have a new section of playground equipment, super fun, but crazy at times with all that want to be on it. After recess I spend the afternoon and early evening in the daycare. I guess you could say I am a sucker for being around kids, I love them all though!
I am stil in the Stake Young Women's and Brandon is the 11 year old scout leader. We are very excited about this year and what it might bring. Brandon and I are both going to school and trying to fit everything else into our spare time. It just seems like there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done sometimes but we seem to keep managing. I am sure it is because of our families that help us out so much! Thank You!

Ok so on to the "Mighty Hunter" story:

Brandon, Brett, Laurie (Brett's wife) and I decided to go hunting last weekend. Brett and I drew out for a tier II caribou hunt. The area for the hunt is about 3 hours away so we packed up all of the gear and the 4-wheelers and we were off. We spent the night in Glennallen, at the caribou lodge, it was pleasant but very short since we left 4 hours late! You know how things just seem to take longer when you have a schedule...we woke up and finished driving to where Brandon had scouted earlier in the week. There were more hunters than I have seen. They were everywhere. It seemed like every truck we pasted that the was set of antlers and a body peeking out. I was super excited to get out there a slay me a big one. Along the way we say several herds but they were out quite a bit and we decided to keep going to see if we could find a herd closer to the road, well just that happened. We saw a herd at the base of a small hill and we were off. Brett and Laurie went one way and Brandon and I went the other to help push them towards the base of the hill. Well Brett shot and nailed one, I on the other hand wasn't quite fast enough, the herd went up the hill before I got close enough to shoot. So after helping Brett dress his caribou we started searching for another herd so that I could shoot one. It seemed like every where we went they were either way far out or there were hunters already there. I was getting very discouraged. Just before sunset we were on our way back down off the mountain and I spotted a caribou all by himself. Lets just say I took "8" shots and we left without one for me. Was not the kind of weekend I had planned.
I stewed upon this all week, I was so mad at myself for missing not once but "8" times. Brandon kept telling me not to worry about it, after all it was 400 yards out and it was getting dark. That only seemed to help for a short time. Wednesday after work, Brandon and I went target shooting once again to see if I could get a little more practice in before we went out agian. We discovered that I really can hit what it is I am trying to shoot as long as I use the scope correctly. Well Friday night (10/29) Brandon and I drove back up to Paxson to see if we could slay me a caribou. We decided to sleep in the truck to safe money for our trip south for Christmas. Lets just say, it was cold, and very uncomfortable. I am not sure either one of us slept very much. We got up around 7:30 and headed to the Paxson lodge to ready ourselves for the day. As we started out from the lodge, there were not very many hunters out. I don't know if it was because of the 2 feet of snow on the ground or if they were just waiting for the fog to lift. We drove past a few herds way out again in hopes we could find one closer to the road. We did, and by the time I got out of the truck and ready they were about 400 yards off again and climbing up and over the hill. I decided not to trace after them and we headed back down the road. No more than 10 minutes later, I was standing off the side of the road. We pulled up on a small herd, about 5, there was a nice size bull in the herd, Brandon said, "Go get him". I slowly and as quitely as I could opened the truck door and drove a bullet into the chamber of my gun, I took aim and shot, missed, cocked it one more time and repositioned on my target. Shoot and watched him stumble a little. He was about 135 yard off the road and Brandon said, you got him, follow him. I started up the side of the hill. Brandon caught up to me and we climbed over the crest of the hill, there he was, laying on the next little hill. He was just staring at us. I had hit him but not killed him. I took aim and once more took a shot. I have to say it was a very exciting and nerve racking experience. I am so glad for the experience and know now that the next time I want my shot to be even more accurate the first time so that I don't have to hike as far or I need to shoot in a an area that lets us use the 4-wheeler. I know it is pretty silly but I named my dead caribou "mortimer". Here is the reason why, morty was once and he is no more. We had to drag him off the mountain, he weighs about 250 lbs and I was so glad that Brandon was there to help me. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Here is a picture from Brandon's scouting trip

More of Brandon's scouting trip

and more caribou....

And here is "Mortimer"...isn't he a beauty!!!

This is what our drive was like....beautiful landscape...

This is the way you ride a 4-wheeler around where I shot Mortimer....UGH!!!
We couldn't even take it out of the truck, that is subsistance hunts for ya,
pulling him off the mountain was not that fun.....he was heavy! I still do not know
how we got him into the truck with just the two of us. Brandon was like Superman!

And I wouldn't have been able to do it with out his help! Thanks babe!
I Love You!

A few more pics from our drive

I love it when the snow is like this on the trees!

Well there you have it. My story of how I got Mortimer! I can now say that I am a "True" Alaskan!

Our True Identity

2010-07-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

This video has stirred in me a new sense of who I am and who my beautiful neices and young women are. What a wonderful reminder we have been given to remember.

Our True Identity

12th Anniversary

2010-07-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

Brandon and I decided that we wanted to do something fun for our anniversary this year but as most years at this time we have no money. What to do for a cheap date??? We decided to take in the beauty that was around us. We first started here....

Standing at the top of the Little-su

I just love the colors that were showing on this very sunny day! It waw 75 degrees YEA!

The water was so beautiful that we couldn't help but take a few pictures...

I just wanted to go play in it, but I didn't!

One of the next stops that we made was to a little icecream shop that serves flavored icecream. It was so delicious. I would have taken pictures but we ate it really fast. Sorry for those that wanted to see my Watermellon and Brandon's Strawberry-cheesecake indulgence.

Brandon asked me if I wanted to watch a movie or still explore the valley, because it was so beautiful and the sun was out I decided that I just couldn't watch a movie so I told him we could go fishing instead! Those that know Brandon can guess that he was more than happy to go....We decided to go to Cottonwood River, which is more like a small creek. Since I wasn't sure I wanted to throw a line in I took my book (last vol. Prelude to Glory) and Brandon, Drake and I were off!

Here we are ready to slay a big one!

I wanted to get him casting but he was behine the long grass and down along the bank and I was stuck in my chair!

It wouldn't be a family trip if we didn't take Drake with us! So we brought him with us. Live just wouldn't be the same if he wasn't with us. As you will see that he loves to come and he loves the water.....

This one kind of reminds me of home and what the farms use to look like all green with the mountains in the back ground

Here is one of the pictures we took of just how beautiful it was that day

The fishing didn't really go the way Brandon planned. We could see several in the river but just couldn't seem to get one to bite. So we decided that we would go out to Pt. McKenzie. We did stop to take a few pictures along the way!

On our way to Pt. McKenzie

Beautiful pic of the Bay

We had such a wonderful drive out to Pt. McKenzie. It was so green and beautiful. Along the way there is a very strange site that you see, I have no idea how it got there, how long it has been there, and why someone just left it there.....

Boat in marsh....what more can I say? It is pretty cool though

We drove out to the Game Ranch, which is owned by family friends Del Ray and Caroline Hobbs, I was hoping to see the buffalo or elk but we didn't see them. So we decided to head over to the bottom of the Little-su. It was beautiful there too....

So green and lucious

Some how Brandon got the camera yet again, but it is so wonderful around me I just had to share

Did I mention that Brandon loves to fish? He thought maybe he would try here....water was high and he didn't bring his waders with us down the trail, maybe next time......

Yes, I got to capture the one I love, he is so amazing!!!!

Did I mention that our (child) lovable pooch loves the water???? I think his best friend is a stick.

We weren't planning on being at the river very long, one cast, a few pictures, and then we would be on our way. We were very close to getting a ticket. We should always pay the fee no matter what! I don't know what we were thinking!

Twelve years ago I went from this.....

Engagement

Married in Manti Temple

First years...

Wow we were so young

A few years later.......

Several moves later........We ended up in Alaska

Several adventures later..........

Here we are stronger than ever and so very grateful that we have one another. We can't wait to spend twelve more and beyond together! I know that I found someone that I can call my best friend!
I love you "B"